SEED PROTEIN VARIATION FOR IDENTIFICATION OF COMMON BUCKWHEAT (FAGOPYRUM-ESCULENTUM MOENCH) CULTIVARS

Total seed proteins of 24 common buckwheat cultivars and cultivated po pulations within a molecular weight range of 30 to 54 kDa were analyse d by SDS-PAGE. Single seed analysis of six cultivars identified a tota l of 18 alternative protein bands with different mobilities. Differenc es of individual protein band frequencies extracted from single seeds among six buckwheat cultivars varied distinctively, indicating high in travarietal polymorphism. The relation between frequencies of protein bands revealed by single seed analysis and their appearance on the bul k seed analyses was demonstrated. Regarding to band mobility rate and relative band intensity among 24 bulk samples analysed, 14 had distinc tive electrophoregrams while the other 10 were ranged into four distin ct groups. Analysis of endosperm and cotyledon proteins showed that pr oteins stored in these main seed parts are tissue specific. The observ ed electrophoretic polymorphism related to proteins stored in the coty ledons while there was no apparent variability with endosperm proteins .